Bridgeton limits outdoor water use to protect reserves

BRIDGETON — City officials are limiting the days and hours of outdoor water use for nearly the next four months, they say, in a conservation effort encouraged by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The restrictions are effective immediately and continue until Sept. 30.

“Affected activities will include watering of lawns and gardens, car washing, power washing and similar uses,” said a news release from the city Department of Water and Sewer.

The rule would apply to residents, businesses, recreation and city officials.

Properties south of Route 49 are allowed such use of water on odd-numbered days, and those north of Route 49 on even days. But on all days, usage is limited to the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

City police and code enforcement officials will issue warnings for first offenses, but subsequent violations will end in “fines and other penalties,” the release says, in line with city ordinance.

The statement also says the city’s old water system, dating to about the turn of the twentieth century, “is running at capacity and will not accommodate the burden of additional service demands.”

It goes to say that “conservation will allow water reserves to build,” which may be critical in an emergency such as a major fire.

“We’re not in panic mode here,” city Public Works Director Dean Dellaquila said on Tuesday. “We’re just trying to be proactive.”

He added that the restrictions are based on DEP recommendations and are common among other municipalities.

“It’s about getting the word out there that there’s got to be some conservation, or the (water) is just not going to be there,” Dellaquila said.

“I don’t think there will be a major problem,” he said of a possible shortage, “but we may have to turn on emergency wells.”

When asked if the water restrictions could become a normal summer occurrence, Dellaquila said that’s possible.

“A lot of restrictions would depend on capacity and demand,” he explained. “It depends on usage by industries, by people watering their lawns, and things like that.”